President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has begun his first official visit to Serbia to discuss bilateral ties and other issues with the Balkan country that maintains longstanding political and economic ties with Russia.
Welcomed at Belgrade airport by Energy Minister Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic on Friday, Zelenskyy had dinner with Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic.
"We will discuss expanding economic ties between our countries, relations with the European Union, other areas that can benefit our nations, and security issues," Zelenskyy said on X.
Serbia has historically maintained close ties with Russia, and President Vucic has declined to impose sanctions on Moscow, a position that has contributed to tensions with the European Union as Belgrade pursues membership in the bloc.
Vucic and Zelenskyy are to hold official talks on Saturday at the presidential palace and make a statement to the press, according to the Serbian presidency.
A senior Ukrainian official told the AFP news agency ahead of the trip that it was an attempt to "pull the Serbs away from Russia's side", but Vucic has remained adamant that his decision not to sanction Moscow would not change.
"I am sure Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in line with his struggle and his views, will say what he thinks about sanctions against the Russian Federation, but the Republic of Serbia set out its position four and a half years ago, almost five years ago, and has not changed it since," Vucic told media on Thursday.
"That will remain the case until further notice," he said.
Belgrade’s Policy
Zelenskyy, who has made numerous international visits since the war began in 2022, has not visited Serbia since becoming president in 2019.
Serbia remains dependent on Russian gas, and President Vucic has maintained contacts with Moscow while also providing non-military assistance to Ukraine.
The Kremlin has accused Serbian companies of supplying ammunition to Ukraine, an allegation Serbia has repeatedly denied.
Vucic went to Ukraine for a regional summit last year and visited Kiev this year.
Serbia is in the process of joining the EU, but that has been stalled partly because of its policies toward Moscow.
